Chapter Two- A New Loyalty
Harry kept to himself during his week at the Dursleys, preparing for his meeting with Voldemort. He knew what he was going to say; how he would say it was the question. He was also nervous; even though he learned of the prophecy from Voldemort, it was likely he was unaware that Harry knew of it, too. That being the case, Voldemort would likely kill him the moment he laid eyes on the boy.
Despite this fact, Harry summoned the Knight Bus on the morning of July seventh. He arrived at The Leaky Cauldron shortly before twelve with his trunk and owl. He stepped inside to see Professor Snape standing at the bar, his back to Tom, the innkeeper. He led Harry to the back of the pub before taking the owl cage in one hand and gripping Harry's free hand with his own before turning on the spot. Harry felt darkness and compression before the sensations lifted. His eye which had been closed, opened to see wild growth on his left and perfectly manicured hedges on the right. The change in his surroundings made him realize that he had Apparated for the first time! I think I prefer brooms, yet Apparition would be so cool if I could do it too.
Snape released Harry's hand and strode forward with Harry following and dragging his trunk behind him. "Excited, Harry?" Snape asked as they walked, a rare note of his own excitement in his voice.
"Nervous actually, sir. I mean, he could kill me the moment I enter the room."
"I doubt it. Ever since he returned, he hoped you would learn of the true prophecy and offer your services to him. The previous attempts to kill you were born of the belief that you were never going to learn the truth. But if you wish to stay alive at least a little longer, here." He drew his wand, waved it, and a hooded cloak appeared in the air. He caught it and passed it to Harry. "This will do until he demands to see your face. By then, you'll be face-to-face. I suggest saying what you plan to say before he decides to kill you."
"Yes, sir. Thank you." Harry had planned to do what Snape had suggested, anyway. He fastened the cloak around his shoulders and threw the hood up so that his face was in shadow.
Snape nodded approvingly as they resumed their walk. Harry's concern over being killed was valid enough. The hooded cloak would enable Harry to approach the Dark Lord without being killed on sight. The gate of the mansion came into view and Snape raised his left arm, which caused the gate to open. Harry suspected the gate opened in response to Snape's Dark Mark. I wouldn't mind having my own Mark.
The gravel crunched under their feet as they continued their approach. Harry glanced around before looking at the manor. He always thought Malfoy lived in splendor, but he didn't think it was this grand! They approached the front door which swung open by itself and they soon stood in a carpeted hallway with portraits lining the walls. Large, sweeping staircases on either side of the hall led upstairs and doors clearly led to other rooms on the ground floor they were on. A set of heavy double doors stood at the end of the hall.
Snape led the way to the doors and then stopped and turned to Harry. "Leave the trunk here. I'll watch it and your owl."
Harry nodded and pushed the doors open as Snape moved to the side with the trunk and owl. He moved toward the tall thin pale man at the other end of the room, the doors closing behind him. He stood in front of a crackling fireplace that had a handsome marble mantelpiece over it with a glided mirror mounted on the wall over it. There was no one else in the room, save for the snake Nagini who was curled up on the hearthrug. He reached the older wizard, knelt down, and kissed the hem of his robes as he had seen the Death Eaters do a little over a year ago.
Voldemort looked down at the cloaked and hooded figure with an expression of curiosity mixed with amusement. Who was this man who was showing loyalty before giving his name? No, not a man, he didn't seem fully grown. It had to be a teenage boy. Very interesting. The last teenager he let join was Regulus Black and that was a long time ago. He was considering letting Draco Malfoy join only to punish Lucius. He would then give Draco the task of killing Albus Dumbledore and watch him fail and possibly die in the attempt. Perhaps he could have this boy try after Draco failed.
"Rise and let me see your face," he ordered.
The figure rose and then pushed back his hood dramatically. Voldemort gaped at the face for a moment. "Potter!" he hissed.
Harry bowed his head. "My Lord," he murmured. "I now see the truth about Dumbledore, thanks to you. He is the enemy, not you. I offer you my services and my loyalty."
He stared at the bowed head. Was this true? Potter swearing loyalty, claiming he discovered Dumbledore's plans, thanks to his brief possession? He knew the boy was a poor Occlumens, thanks to Severus' reports. He could learn the truth easily. He drew his wand, pointed it at Potter, and said, "Legilimens!"
There was no resistance, none at all. He found the memories he wanted in no time. He saw the boy glimpsing images of the true Dumbledore as well as learning of the real prophecy and Snape's true role while he possessed Potter. He felt Harry's hatred for the old man. He learned that Harry had been re-sorted into Slytherin and sensed the teenager's determination to join Voldemort in bringing down Dumbledore. He lifted the spell and a cold smile came to his face. It was all true! Potter had realized his true destiny and he was only too happy to accept the boy.
"Harry, at last you have come to the right side of the coming war. Lift your head and extend your left arm."
Harry obeyed, knowing what was going to happen: He was going to be branded with the Dark Mark and officially be a Death Eater, just as he had hoped earlier! His stomach squirmed with joy at the thought. Voldemort took the extended arm in his left hand and turned it so that the underside was exposed. He put the tip of his wand to the center and hissed, "By my wand, I place the Dark Mark!" in Parseltongue, which Harry understood.
Harry gasped in pain as a burning sensation spread from the wand to his arm. He saw black lines appear on his arm, connecting and spreading outward. It continued to burn and Harry groaned in a way to indicate that he was savoring the pain while he watched the lines. Soon, the completed black image of the Dark Mark appeared before turning red and the burning sensation faded when the wand was removed.
"It is done," Voldemort declared. "You are now one of my followers, but more than that. Harry, you are also my heir and when we join the Ministry, I will put you in place as Minister of Magic and you will implement any policies I want."
Harry admired his new Mark and felt excitement at the thought of being Minister. He looked at his master. "I thank you, my Lord."
"As you should. Now, I will give you a mission to fulfill within the next year; one that shouldn't be too hard for you to carry out. I want you to kill Albus Dumbledore."
Harry kneeled before his master. "Yes, my Lord. I will kill him."
"I expect no less. Come, I will have someone escort you to a room upstairs."
Harry followed Voldemort to the doors which swung inward and revealed Snape standing to one side with Harry's trunk and owl. The Potions Master kneeled. "My Lord."
"Ah, Severus. Excellent. See Harry to a spare bedroom upstairs then come down to the drawing room. But, first…" Voldemort pushed back Snape's sleeve and pressed the Mark.
Harry felt his new Mark burn painfully and clamped his right hand on it. The pain ended when Voldemort removed his finger. "Now take Harry upstairs."
"Yes, my Lord." Snape rose, took out his wand, and levitated the trunk before leading the teen, who was holding his owl's cage, upstairs. Once out of earshot, Snape said softly. "I notice that you've been Marked. That's a high honor."
"I will treat it as such and I have been given a task. Our Lord wants me to kill Dumbledore."
"That will be easy for you. I know that he still trusts you and believes you to be the same person he met in previous years, just in a different House."
Harry smirked. Dumbledore is an old fool. Gryffindor Harry trusted Dumbledore blindly, accepted everything the headmaster said, believed him to be benevolent. But Slytherin Harry knows better. I will pretend to still trust him and once the perfect opportunity to strike comes, I will kill him. I have no doubt that I can do it.
I thought Harry having the Dark Mark was an interesting idea and that's why I put it in. My sister didn't like it, but I thought it would be a nice dramatic touch later in the story.
